Tape serving machine



Oct. 18, 1949. T..H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVIG MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1942 Hll T72@ 56H11, MU- *E A Tir-ORNE Ys T. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING MACHINE Oct. 18, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jn. 20, 1942 /N VENTO/e 75%@0045 KRUEGE/ Er l WM .W A TTORNE Ys Patented Oct. 18, 1949 TAPE SERVING MACHINE Theodore H. Krueger, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Better Packages Incorporated, a corporation of New York Application January 20, 1942, Serial No. 427,414

(Cl. 16k-84.5)

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for serving measured lengths of strips or tape which are covered or impregnated on one or both sides thereof with a pressure sensitive adhesive usually tacky or non-drying either permanently or during the period of use. The invention has particular utility in the various elds of use to which pressure sensitive adhesive tape is applied and especially is useful where tape is required in large quantities of short lengths such as fractional parts of a foot. The invention eliminates the tedious nuisance and waste involved in cutting inaccurate lengths With a scissors and further eliminates the diiiiculty encountered in .severing most pressure sensitive tapes by hand.

In addition, the invention is an improvement over known types of dispensers for tacky tapes especially in view of the fact that it can provide a large number of measured strips simultaneously by a simple operation of the machine.

The improved apparatus contemplates mechanical means for stripping the material or tape from the roll and presenting it to the operator in position for severing into predetermined lengths and comprises generally a reel mounted to rotate on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of mounting of the supply roll of tape. The reel is preferably provided with a series of spaced tape engaging members, the tape engaging surfaces of which extend transversely of the reel and are adapted to engage and hold the tape, the holding function being performed substantially entirely by the inherent adhesive quality of the tape itself. A cutting or tearing means for severing the pieces of tape is provided mounted in a convenient position preferably adjacent the periphery of the reel and preferably extending transversely to the path of the tape. Means are provided for moving the reel through a predetermined distance which may be the distance between one or more of the tape engaging members and means are further provided for locking the reel in position to permit the removal of one or more delivered strips and to permit the tearing of the tape against the knife without disturbing the vposition of the reel.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and which illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, parts being broken away to show the interior mechamsm,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine. `parts being broken away,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View on line 3-3 of 'Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a part of the apparatus with the mechanism in a different position from that shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine comprises a base I on which is mounted a. pair of standards 'Il carrying an axle I2. The axle is adapted to carry one or more rolls f5 of tacky strip or tape. As illustrated six narrow rolls of tape are shown, though obviously this number may be increased or decreased as 11equired.

Two side frame members 20 are mounted on the base I0 and carry an axle 2|, on which is rotatably mounted a reel 22, Which includes a core 23. and a plurality of radial plates 25. The edges of the radial plates which are preferably of smooth metal or the like constitute tape supports. the strips of tape being Wound part way around the reel and adhering to the supporting edges. As the reel is rotated it will draw the tapes from the rolls l5. Means are provided for severing sections from the ends of the tapes, such means being illustrated as comprising a cutter or tear-off blade 3D which is mounted in slots 32 in a tube l33. .the blade being held in the slots by screws 31. Pivots 36 are mounted in the ends of the tube and are received in slots 35. The pivots are clamped in the slots by screws 39 and may be held in adjusted position by such screws, so as to .bring the edge of the tear-off blade in desired closeness to the reel for the best tear-olf action. The reel is rotated so as to expose portions of the ends of tape ystrips beyond the tear-off blade. The finger of the operator may be inserted between two of the radial plates under the exposed end Aof the tape which may then be lifted away from the reel and pressed or drawn against the edge of the blade so as to tear off a section of the strip while still leaving the end of the strip behind the edge of the tear-olf blade adhering to the edge of the radial plate behind the tear-off blade. If a number of strips of tape are used, as illustrated, these .may be successively grasped and torn off until a whole row has been removed. The reel is then advanced a step and another row of tape ends is exposed which may be successively torn off.

Particularly where a production run of packages is being vcompleted by a single operator, it is sometimes useful for the operator to be ,able to remove two or more strips of tape from the machine with a single motion. each strip being intended to be used at a particular zone of the box being wrapped. In such circumstances, it is undesirable for the operator to have to turn to the machine for each individual strip of tape as much time would be lost by such a procedure, thus yincreasing labor costs. The machine of the present invention is particularly adapted to remedying this diiiculty in that the operator may remove from the machine two or more strips of tape 'simultaneously merely by inserting his finger far enough in between the supports 25 on the reel before vbringing it in contact with the tape I5 and tearing the strips off against the blade 30. Thus if two strips are required for each end of a package, two may be taken in one movement and if three should ,be required for each end and a side, three may be taken, etc.

such as one equal to two or three or more distances between radial plates 25. The feeding `of a strip longer than that extending between two of the plates 25 is accomplished by rotating the reel more than one step so as to expose a portion of strip extending over a plurality of plates which f portion may then be torn 01T as a unit against the knife 30.

It is desirable to provide means for locking the reel in position after each movement thereof, and holding it firmly while the sections of tape are lbeing removed. It is also desirable to provide mechanism for rotating the reel in definite steps so as to feed forward the proper measured amount of tape to be served. In the form of apparatus disclosed the following mechanism is illustrated for accomplishing these purposes:

A shaft 50 is journaled in one of the side frames 20, the shaft carrying on its outer end an arm `5I on which is a suitable operating handle 52. On the inner end of the shaft 50 is a crank 54 carrying a roller 55, which is adapted to swing in under one of the radial plates 25 when the handle 52 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (Figures 3 and 4). The engagement of the roller 55 under the plate forces it upward thus rotating the reel, and the throw of the crank 54 is such that for each complete rotation of the operating handle the reel will be advanced a distance equal to the space between two successive plates. If it is desired to advance the reel a multiple of this distance, the operating handle can be rotated through more than one revolution. For locking the reel against movement a bell crank lever 6B' is provided which is journaled to the side frame on a stud El. The bell crank lever 65 has an arm 65 carrying a block 66 in which is formed a notch 61 adapted to engage the edge of one of the plates 25. The bell crank lever is normally urged in a direction to cause the notch to engage an edge of the plate by means of a spring 68 secured to the arm E9' of the bell crank. For moving the bell crank to cause the notch to release the edge of the plate so that the reel may be turned, the bell crank 'is provided with -a third arm l0 which has a face li adapted to be contacted by the roller I pass out of contact with the surface ll so that the bell crank lever is released and the surface of the block 65 comes in contact with the edge of a plate 25. When the reel has been moved through the desired interval the edge of the plate will come opposite to the notch 61 which will thereupon snap over the edge of the plate, thus holding the reel firmly in position while the strip portionsare being removed.

While I have illustrated and vdescribed in de;

tail certain forms of my` invention, I do not wish to be, understood as limiting myself to the use of such forms, as I realize that changes within the scope of the invention are possible, and I further intend each element or instrumentality recited in any of the following claims to he understood to refer to all equivalent elements or instrumentalities for accomplishing substantially the same result in substantially the same or equivalent manner, it being my purpose to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized.

I I claim:

1. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape, means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable -reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports spaced circumferentially of the reel from each other at their outer extremities a distance necessary to permit the insertion of the finger of the operator between each pair of supports and extending transversely across the path of the tape, a tear-off cutter mounted adjacent to the periphery of the reel and extending transversely of the path of the tape and against which the tape may be drawn upon removal from the reel so as to sever the same, and means for supporting said cutter in adjusted position with respect to the circumference of the reel.

2. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape, means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports spaced circumferentially of the reel from each other at their outer extremities a distance necessary to permit the insertion of the finger of the operator between each pair of supports and extending transverselyvacross the path of the tape, a tear-oli' cutter mounted adjacent to the periphery of the reel and extending transversely of the path of the tape and against which the tape may be drawn upon removal from the reel so as to sever the same, means for locking the reel against rotation while'the tape is removed and severed, and means for temporarily releasing said locking means and rotating the reel through a predetermined interval.

3. In an app-aratus for dispensing tacky tape, means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports spaced circumferentially of the reel and extending transversely across the path of the tape, and means for rotating the reel through a space equal to the distance between two of said tape supports or a multiple of said distance, comprising a crank having a throw equal to the distance between two of said tape supports and carrying means adapted to engage and move a tape support so as to advance said reel a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent tape supports each time the crank is rotated through a complete revolution. y

4. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape,

means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports or a multiple of said distance, comprising a crank having a throw equal to the distance between two of said tape supports and carrying means adapted to engage and move a tape support so as to advance said reel a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent tape supports each time the crank is rotated through a complete revolution, and means for locking the reel against movement at the end of each actuation of said operating crank, said locking means being released on initiation of the next actuation of said crank.

5. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape, means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports spaced circumferentially of the reel and extending transversely across the path of the tape, means for rotating the reel through a space equal to the distance between twoof said tape supports or a multiple of said distance, comprising a crank having a throw equal to the distance between two of said tape supports and carrying means adapted to engage and move a tape support so as to advance said reel a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent tape supports each time the crank is rotated through a complete revolution, and means for locking the reel against movement at the end of each actuation of said operating crank, said locking means being released on initiation of the next actuation of said crank, said locking means comprising a member having a notch adapted to interlock with one of said tape supports on the reel and having a surface adapted to .be engaged by said operating crank and moved on each actuation of said operating crank causing said locking member to release its engagement with the tape support with which it is engaged.

6. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape, means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports spaced circumferentially of the reel and extending transversely across the path of the tape, a cutter mounted adjacent to the periphery of the reel and extending transversely of the path of the tape and against which the tape may be drawn upon removal from the reel so as to sever the same, means for temporarily locking the reel in position, comprising a bell crank having an arm provided with a notch adapted to engage one of the tape supports, spring means for urging said bell crank in a direction to cause engagement between said notch and said support, and means for moving said bell crank to release said notch from its engagement with said supports and for rotating said reel for a predetermined distance, comprising a crank adapted to engage a portion of said bell crank to move the same to cause said disengagement of said notch, said crank also acting to engage one of said tape supports to cause a limited rotation of said reel, and an operating handle for said crank.

7. An apparatus for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of strips of tacky tape including means to hold a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing a plurality of strips of tape from the supply and supporting the tape pending removal from said reel including circumferentially spaced tape engaging supports extending across the path of the tape spaced from each other at cutter extending transversely of the path of the tape and against which the tape may be drawn and severed in removing it from the reel.

8. An apparatus for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of strips of tacky tape including a tape supply holder, a rotatable reel for withdrawing the tape strips from the holder having transversely mounted equally icircumferentially spaced supports extending transversely across the path of the tape to engage the tape and hold it pending removal and a tear-01T cutter mounted transversely of the path of the tape, said tape holding supports being spaced from each other at a suicient distance to permit the insertion of the nger of the operator therebetween in order to remove one or more support-held strips.

9. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape, means for holding a supply of tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including a plurality of radially extending tape engaging supports, means for rotating the reel through a space equal to the distance between two of said tape supports or a multiple of said distances, comprising a crank having means to advance said reel a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent tape supports each time the crank is rotated through a complete revolution and means for locking the reel against movement at the end of each actuation of said crank, said locking means being automatically releasable.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which said locking means includes a member having a notch adapted to interlock with one of said tape supports, and having a surface adapted to be engaged by said operating crank and moved to cause said locking member to release its engagement with the tape support with vwhich it is engaged.

11. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, in combination, a feed device for drawing the tape from a source of supply, said device including a plurality of spaced tape engaging surfaces of suflicient area to provide effective tape adhesion, an actuating element for intermittently advancing said feed device, and locking means cooperating with said feed device to lock the same against overthrow and rebound during the intervals when said actuating device is not advancing the feed device.

TI-IEODORE I-I. KRUEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,210,003 Randolph Aug. 6, 1940 2,233,361 Anderson et al Feb. 25, 1941 2,241,658 Eng-berg May 13, 1941 2,251,942 Kimball Aug. 12, 1941 2,274,623 Hawkins Feb. 24, 1942 

